Award-winning piano-saxophone team Euan Stevenson and Konrad Wiszniewski give fascinating insights into the relationship between classical music and jazz.

In this superb, informal presentation two of the UK’s leading jazz musicians improvise a Bach-style reinvention and an arrangement of the Duke Ellington Orchestra’s theme tune, Take the A Train in the style of a Mozart Sonata, among other delights.

As well as being a superb pianist, Stevenson is a composer who has premiered works on both sides of the Atlantic and whose most recent commission was an arrangement of the Ukrainian national anthem for renowned violin virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman and the English Chamber Orchestra. Wiszniewski is one of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s star soloists and twice winner of the Best Instrumentalist title at the Scottish Jazz Awards.

As they move between musical styles with consummate ease, you discover why romantic composers like Chopin, Rachmaninov and Duke Ellington all loved the same key. Learn why Miles Davis and Eric Satie were kindred spirits and hear brilliantly performed jazz standards and original compositions from the two albms from Stevenson and Wiszniewski’s widely acclaimed group, New Focus.

‘….musicians with an instinctive desire to communicate’ – Keith Bruce The Herald*****

Safer by Sound and Inspiring Leith set up The Well as an opportunity for performer who would normally not get the chance to show their creativity in a public setting.

This is not just any old open mic night. Safer by Sound run creative workshops in performing disciplines to give folk confidence and mix with other creative people we then give folk the chance to perform if they wish to. There is no pressure. Its always a joy to see people's faces light up when they receive the applause and support of the audience. Please support us in this endeavor. Big thanks to St James.

Phil.

Future dates:

Saturday June 4th, Saturday July 9th, Saturday August 6th.

All are welcome to come along for a celebration of Desmond Tutu which will include Rev John Bell leading songs and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Lord Jim Wallace, speaking. There will be representatives of different faiths and denominations involved.

A workshop prior to the event led by John Bell from the Iona Community will be held in the Cathedral from 5-6 pm to learn South African Freedom songs which will be sung during the celebration. Sign-up to the workshop on Eventbrite.

For more details, contact the Edinburgh Interfaith Association by emailing info@eifa.org.uk

Safer by Sound and Inspiring Leith set up The Well as an opportunity for performer who would normally not get the chance to show their creativity in a public setting.

This is not just any old open mic night. Safer by Sound run creative workshops in performing disciplines to give folk confidence and mix with other creative people we then give folk the chance to perform if they wish to. There is no pressure. Its always a joy to see people's faces light up when they receive the applause and support of the audience. Please support us in this endeavor.

Big thanks to St James.

Phil.

Benzie was the first recipient of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, aged seventeen in 2017 and went on to study at Berklee School of Music, where he won the prestigious Billboard Award.

He has recorded two enthusiastically received albums with his international trio and works regularly with the Glasgow-based funk-folk-jazz collective Fat-Suit as well as guitarist Joe Williamson’s Animal Society.

For his Piano Playlist, Benzie will lead a trio of fellow Scots comprising top young bassist Ewan Hastie and superb drummer Stephen Henderson, from the Fergus McCreadie Trio. They’ll be featuring the music of some of Benzie’s favourite pianists, including Fred Hersch, Marcin Wasilewski, Brad Mehldau, John Taylor, Aaron Parks and Jacob Karlzon.

Doors 0pen 7.00pm

For people with disabilities - free ticket for carer. Contact organiser for details.

CANCELLED! 2.00pm Coorie-In at The Croft:

Due to severe weather warnings this event has had to be cancelled

The Croft 'Coorie-in' is an exciting community day hosted by Earth In Common on Leith Community Croft. We want to create a warm inviting space to come together and embrace our community for a better and more just future for all! Come and warm yourselves up at our St Andrews Day themed Coorie-in where you'll find: workshops, a craft corner where we'll be making Scottish themed art, flea market stalls, local organisations discussing their work, and finishing with a Ceilidh from Leith's Red Hot Ceilidh band - Flamin' Nora!"

After a recent service looking at the prophetic imperative to speak truth to power it seems an apt time to post some information about COP26.

It is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to support such a vital movement seeking a more sustainable world and future.

Below is a summary of all the different aspects of St. James' involvement. Please read it through carefully and if you would like to help or be involved in any way there are various links and people to contact.

With Warmest Wishes, Iain.

Homestay Network: Finally thousands of activists, delegates and visitors are looking for affordable accommodation so COP26 Homestay are asking if people could register as hosts. The platform works like AirBnB, where hosts create profiles listing spare rooms, sofas or a bit of floor (or even spare houses!), and guests get in touch to ask whether they can stay. Hosts can charge a small fee per night, or list a space for free. The Homestay Network can be found here: https://www.humanhotel.com/cop26/ and potential hosts can register here.